To specialize or not to specialize

[FTD123456]

For a year now I have been toying with the idea of applying for pediatric dental residency, however I keep getting mixed opinions. Some say I should practice as a general dentist itself others suggest otherwise. I am sure that I want to practice pediatric dentistry. But here are my questions:
1. Is it worth investing 2 yrs? Are the salaries different if I practice pediatric dentistry as a general dentist v/s as a pediatric dentist?
2. Is there any treatment that I am not allowed to do as a general dentist?

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[LFA20]

For a year now I have been toying with the idea of applying for pediatric dental residency, however I keep getting mixed opinions. Some say I should practice as a general dentist itself others suggest otherwise. I am sure that I want to practice pediatric dentistry. But here are my questions:
1. Is it worth investing 2 yrs? Are the salaries different if I practice pediatric dentistry as a general dentist v/s as a pediatric dentist?
2. Is there any treatment that I am not allowed to do as a general dentist?

1. Most peds residency are paid so yes I’d say it’s worth it if that’s what you want to do.
on average peds make more than GPs

2. I don’t believe so

 

[Boat on the Chesapeake]

1. Agree with the above poster, generally will make more. Financially an easy decision if you love peds and get a paid residency position. I think some do charge tuition though?

2. All the outpatient procedures are the same but the big difference would be hospital privileges for sedation cases. I think that’s much harder to do if you’re a GP.

If you love peds, don’t like implants/dentures/complex fixed cases/etc and thus don’t want to own a general practice, give it a shot. Pediatric dentistry all day every day would be torture for me though.

 

[Adam_W]

If you think you want to specialize, and like the idea of being a pediatric dentist, I would definitely go that direction over general dentistry.

 

[toothexplore]

I am a general dentist in a peds setting. The charges are the same where I practice, but I have seen other practices can charge more for a specialist. I wouldn't feel comfortable doing any sedation beyond N2O